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Day 1 Welcome to Frankfurt!

Say "Guten tag" to Germany! Arrive at Frankfurt airport and pick up your rental car, then drive to your accommodation in the city.

Located on the river Main, Frankfurt is a major financial hub that's home to the European Central Bank. Head to Altstadt (Old Town) and stroll through Romerburg square. In December, the square hosts a famous Christmas Market!

Day 2 Frankfurt - Heidelberg - Black Forest

Leave Frankfurt today and drive to the Black Forest, with a stop in Heidelberg along the way. Idyllically located on the shores of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is Germany‘s oldest university town and is one of the most popular destinations in the country.

Visit the famous castle reached by cable car and explore its historic city center. After touring Heidelberg, continue on to the famous Black Forest region, the setting of the Brothers Grimm "Hansel and Gretel" tale. Cap off the day with a slice of black forest cake!

Day 3 Black Forest - Lake Titisee - Landau - Fussen

Say goodbye to the Black Forest as you drive to Fussen. On the way, you may want to see Lake Titisee and the small island of Lindau in Lake Constance, which offers spectacular views of the Alps. Weather permitting, take the Alpine road from Lindau to Oberstaufen and Immenstadt to Fussen. 

Upon arrival in Fussen, check into your accommodation and then see St Mang's Basilica, which holds the oldest fresco in Germany. 

Day 4 Fussen - Neuschwanstein - Oberammergau - Linderhof - Innsbruck

As you make your way to Innsbruck, pay a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, built by Ludwig II, known as the “Mad King." This castle may look familiar: it served as the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle!

You may also want to visit Linderhof Castle, another King Ludwig II castle and the only one where he actually lived for a significant amount of time. You can also visit Oberammergau village, famous for its tradition of mounting Passion Plays and woodcarving. 

The end of the day should bring you to Innsbruck just across the German border in Austria. Located in the gorgeous deep valley of the River Inn, Innsbruck is a historic city with a stunning backdrop of the scenic Karwendel Mountains to the north and Tuxer Mountains to the south. 

Day 5 Innsbruck - Munich

Spend the morning and afternoon exploring Innsbruck! See the opulent interiors of the Imperial Palace, completed in the year 1500 under Emperor Maximilian I. Don't miss the Imperial Gardens with its giant chess board!

Drive approximately 2 hours to your next destination of Munich. As the capital of Bavaria, Munich is famous for its annual Oktoberfest and beer halls, Marienplatz square, and iconic cathedral. 

After settling into your accommodation, head to Viktualienmarkt, a sprawling daily food market in the Old Town. Pick up some tasty treats, then take in the sights of nearby Marienplatz, always buzzing with activity.

Day 6 Munich

Today you have a full free day to enjoy Munich! Consider a visit to Residenz, Munich's number one attraction. Home to Bavaria's Wittelsbach rulers from 1508 until WWI, the former palace turned museum is a gilded royal wonderland.

Also worth a visit is one of three Pinakothek museums, home to fabulous canvases from the Middle Ages to present day. 

End the day at Hofbrauhaus, Munich's oldest beer hall dating back to the 16th century. Take a seat at one of the long wooden tables and enjoy a frosty beer and traditional Bavarian meal!

Day 7 Munich - Nuremberg

After breakfast, drive approximately 2 hours toward Nuremberg in northern Bavaria. For centuries, Nuremberg was the undeclared capital of the Holy Roman Empire and the preferred residence of most German kings.

While severely damaged during WWII, the city has been rebuilt and is considered one of the highlights in Bavaria. Spend the day visiting the city’s historic city center, well-preserved castle, Gothic churches, romantic houses, and peaceful squares. 

Day 8 Nuremberg - Rothenburg

Today, drive approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a lovely medieval town and one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Germany!  Surrounded by thick medieval walls, the city overlooks Tauber River and is notable for its colorful array of half-timbered houses.

For the best view of the town and surrounding countryside, climb the Town Hall tower. And you can't leave Rothenburg without picking up a few souvenirs!

Day 9 Depart Germany

Say "auf Wiedersehen" to Germany! Drive to Frankfurt Airport to return your rental car, then transfer to your departure gate for your flight home.

*Please note the drive is approximately 2.5 hours, so if your return flight leaves in the morning, you will need to drive from Rothenburg to Frankfurt on Day 8, and stay in Frankfurt your last night. If staying in Rothenburg, please allow enough time to return your rental car and arrive at the airport at least 2-3 hours prior to departure.

Day 1 Join trip in Budapest, Hungary; orientation walk of the city

Our adventure begins in the Hungary's capital city, Budapest, where we spend the night. Situated on a beautiful stretch of the Danube River, the city consists of two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda is the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, whilst the latter is the modern business centre. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 4:30pm for the welcome meeting and, utilising local transport, they will to take us on an orientation walking tour of the main sights of this impressive city. We'll see the Basilica of Saint Stephen and the Parliament buildings before crossing the Chain Bridge to the Castle District and Watertown. Here lie Buda's most ancient gems - Castle Hill with the Old Town, Fisherman's Bastion and the Royal Palace. After the tour for those that wish there will be the chance to go for dinner. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Budapest Airport (BUD). There is a lot to see and do in Budapest; if you can spare the time, we suggest arriving a day early to make the most of this fascinating city. Alternatively, you could consider combining this holiday with the Krakow to Budapest Adventure to make a two-week holiday. Please note that if you wish to join the orientation tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 4.30pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. It's around 45 minutes' drive from the airport to the hotel, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 2.30pm. Should you miss the meeting, your Leader will leave you information giving the meeting time for the next day in the hotel reception and will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Drive to Bratislava, Slovakia with a walking tour on arrival

After the journey from Budapest we will spend a nice leisurely afternoon in historical Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. It used to be the capital of the former Hungarian Kingdom and was known as 'Pressburg' and went through tough times at war with the Ottoman Empire. We will walk through the Old Town's maze of pretty Medieval streets and squares surrounded by numerous cafes and trendy bistros. We pass by Michael's Gate which is the only remaining old entrance to the city, the pretty Main Square, Neoclassical Primate's Palace and Cathedral of Saint Martin. After the walk you can continue your discovery by visiting one of the oldest castles in Slovakia or by enjoying a birds eye view from city's most famous landmark, the so-called UFO bridge, which affords views over the 'panelaky' typical communist era blocks of flats and various other fairly radical urban projects.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Train to Vienna, Austria; chance to travel back by boat

This morning we take a short train ride (about 1 hour) to Austria's capital, Vienna, where we enjoy a walking tour of the Old City with a local guide. This should offer a good initial overview of the history and the structure of the city. Sights during the walk will include the Karlsplatz, Heroes Square, Hofburg (Imperial Palace Complex), Imperial Treasury, National Library, Spanish Riding School, Vienna's ancient housing estates, Saint Stephens Church and the Opera. We won't have time to enter any of these places on our tour but afterwards you will be free to return to visit any that you wish. You can choose to return to Bratislava by train at your leisure (we will provide a return ticket) or you may prefer to book a boat trip back along the Danube River (taking approximately 2 hours).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Visit to Lednice-Valtice and wine tasting in Mikulov, Czechia

We start our day with a train trip (taking around 1 hour), followed by a short bus journey to the beautiful town of Mikulov. Filled with history embodied in architectural monuments, this small town offers something for everyone. Situated in the very heart of the wine region, it has plenty of walking paths with local and family run wine cellars or wine tasting centres along the way. En route to Mikulov we stop at Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe and here we will take a walk around the castle park of Chateau Lednice. In the afternoon we visit the Jewish Cemetery in Mikulov with centuries old tombs and it is the final resting place of many prominent rabbis. Following our visit we'll enjoy a wine tasting of Mikulov's local produce.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Train to Prague and explore on foot

A train journey takes us to our final destination of Prague, the capital city of the Czechia. Our train travel today will involve a change of trains and take approximately 4.5 hours in total. Twelve centuries have adorned it with a labyrinth of old streets and wonderful palaces and bridges. We enjoy a guided city tour, which will take in some of the main highlights including the Old Town Square and City Hall, set amid antique houses and arcades. Other sites include the Astronomical Clock, Powder Tower and Prague Ghetto, which includes the Jewish Cemetery and Synagogues. We also see Charles Bridge, the most handsome bridge over the Vltava River and the area of Hradcany which contains the castle of the Bohemian Kings.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Free day in Prague with the option to visit Konopiste Castle

On our second day in Prague you are free to enjoy the city at your leisure. You may wish to head by local train to the 700 year old Konopiste Castle. The castle was once owned by Archduke Ferdinand, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered the start of World War I. A boat trip on the Vltava River is another possibility. There are also many classical music concerts to be found. If the timing is right, you may be lucky to see a performance in one of the old atmospheric churches. There the option of visiting the Bunker Museum, where a range of Cold War relics are on display from an age when paranoia and spying was at an all-time high, which is housed in a former communist bunker underneath the city.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Trip ends in Prague

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Prague. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Prague at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Prague Airport (PRG).

Meals Provided : Breakfast